Public Use of Urban Parks

A Methods Manual for Park Managers and Community Leaders

Parks, a vital part of healthy urban communities, must serve many users' needs. Information about park usage helps park managers and community leaders to plan park development, allocate scarce resources, and manage day-to-day park operations. This manual was developed from an evaluation of the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund's Urban Parks Initiative, an ongoing effort to improve the quality and quantity of urban parks for public use and to disseminate strategies for effective park development. Through case studies, the authors introduce park managers to various data collection methods and data uses. The more familiar park managers are with these techniques, the more pertinent their information will be, and the more prepared they will be to serve park users.

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